Arriving in the classroom.
Takumi Yuuya glanced at Yuigahama Yui.
"Good morning, Yui."
"G-good morning, Yuuya-kun."
Yuigahama answered nervously.
The rest of the class looked on in shock.
What's going on here?
Wasn't Yuuya with Miura Yumiko…?
Why was he suddenly so close with Yuigahama Yui?
Everyone turned their eyes toward Miura Yumiko.
Her head was lowered, hiding her expression.
Could it be… they'd already broken up?
As Yuuya walked past Hayama Hayato, he noticed Hayama's head was lowered as well.
Clearly, Hayama had already made his choice—between Miura Yumiko and Yukinoshita Haruno.
He had chosen the latter.
Even knowing Yuuya's chances with Haruno were slim, he still couldn't bear the thought of Yuuya pursuing her.
Yuuya reached his seat.
Sitting down, he pulled out his phone and sent a message:
"Lunch break. Meet me on the rooftop."
——
When lunch break arrived.
Yuuya headed straight for the Service Club room.
He entered, glanced at the lunchbox on the table, but didn't take it right away.
Instead, he approached Yukinoshita Yukino.
She calmly poured black tea into a paper cup for him.
Yuuya reached out and patted her on the head.
She immediately brushed his hand away.
"It's Monday."
"Does that mean you're supposed to keep your distance? We had a pretty good time yesterday on our date, didn't we?"
"I was only keeping our agreement. I wasn't enjoying myself."
"Such a tsundere, little Yukino."
Yuuya picked up the cup of tea.
Yukino looked him straight in the eyes.
"When are you planning to challenge me?"
"Why? Can't wait to be my girlfriend?"
Disgust from Yukinoshita Yukino +30.
"I just want to know the exact time so I can let Hiratsuka-sensei know. She'll act as judge."
"Tomorrow, then."
"Tomorrow? Are you sure?"
"Absolutely. I've trained enough."
He set down the paper cup, locking eyes with her.
——
On the rooftop.
Miura Yumiko had arrived first.
She waited several minutes before Yuuya showed up, lunchbox in hand.
"What did you call me up here for?" Yumiko asked, turning to face him.
"Not long ago, I stood here with another girl—right in that spot. She turned around, and just then, the wind blew and—"
Before he could finish, a gust of wind swept across the rooftop.
Yumiko froze.
The next instant, her cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and anger.
Disgust from Miura Yumiko +50.
"That wasn't my intention," Yuuya said with an innocent expression. "I just wanted to remind you, but what a coincidence."
"What are you trying to say?" Yumiko clenched her fists.
Yuuya pulled out his phone.
"If I were two-timing… Hayama, would you come save Yumiko?"
"Yuuya-kun, you…"
Yumiko turned, startled to hear Hayama Hayato's voice.
Yuuya slipped his phone back into his pocket.
"Hayama already knows I'm juggling multiple girls. You saw his reaction this morning."
"The reason he did nothing was because I told him: if he tried to save you, I'd go after Yukinoshita Haruno instead."
"He knows perfectly well my chances of getting Haruno are slim. But even so, he couldn't stand the thought of me trying."
"So, he chose not to save you."
Yumiko blinked in shock.
Her eyes burned as she glared at Yuuya.
"Why are you doing this to me?"
"Instead of asking me, why don't we hear it straight from Hayama himself?"
Yuuya stepped forward, holding his phone up in plain view, and dialed Hayama's number.
Yumiko stood there silently, staring at the screen.
A few seconds later, the call connected.
"Yuuya-kun."
"Hayama, I lied before. I don't care to pursue Haruno—it's too unlikely anyway."
"Yuuya-kun… you and Yumiko are just putting on an act, aren't you? Trying to make me step in to save her?"
"As expected of Hayama. Sharp as ever."
"I just thought, Yumiko couldn't possibly be with you this quickly."
"You really understand Yumiko. Too bad she doesn't understand you at all."
As Yuuya spoke, he looked at Yumiko.
Hayama was silent for a long moment before continuing.
"If Yumiko ever needed my help, I wouldn't hesitate. I still feel guilty toward her."
"But if she wanted things to go back to the way they were, my answer is no."
"I don't want her lying to herself any longer."
"I've never had feelings for Yumiko."
Yumiko's face went pale. Tears streamed silently down her cheeks.
Yuuya frowned.
"Harsh, Hayama."
"I am harsh. But it's necessary."
"If Yumiko heard that, she'd be heartbroken."
"Better a short heartbreak than a lifetime of lies."
"Enough. I need to eat."
Yuuya ended the call.
Yumiko's tears dripped onto the ground, her sobs breaking free.
Yuuya stepped forward and pulled her into his arms.
She pushed against him weakly, but he didn't let go.
"Sorry. I couldn't give you the answer you wanted most.
Like Hayama, I only wanted to wake you up.
The two of you were never meant to be. Even if I hadn't interfered, he would've told you the same by graduation.
All I did was speed things up."
Yumiko stopped resisting.
She slumped against him and wept.
——
When lunch break ended, her tears had dried.
She wiped her face and murmured, "Sorry… your clothes."
"It's fine. Are you calmer now?"
"Yeah. Much better."
"A broken heart isn't the end of the world. Honestly, there was never really a chance to begin with. You knew that."
"I knew. I just… thought time might change things."
"But you didn't act. How could time change anything for you? Only effort does that. If you don't take initiative, nothing will happen."
Yuuya's tone was serious.
Yumiko stared at him for a long moment.
"You mean… if I had gone after Hayama from the start, things might not have turned out like this?"
"Exactly. If you'd been proactive and started dating him, I'd have had no part in this."
"I… I always thought that making the first move would force him to answer me, the same way he rejects other girls."
"But the one he likes—Haruno—is confident in everything she does. He has no interest in sweet, gentle girls."
"I chose wrong from the beginning."
"And there's no undoing it now."
Yuuya gazed at the sky.
Yumiko followed his eyes upward.
"Yeah. No second chances. It's over now. I'm finally awake."
"My lunch is cold already. Want some? I'll split it with you."
"Mm. I haven't eaten yet."
"I was joking, but… guess I'll share anyway."
With that, Yuuya divided the lunchbox into two portions and handed her half.